Web TV
The Internet is changing everything! A great source of information (and misinformation), social networking, find friends, keep in touch, find a job, make a long distance phone call and now it is even changing television. Even the networks have discovered new streams of revenue for old television shows. Did you miss the last episode of your favorite show? No problem, they are being put on the Internet just days after being aired. You can even catch up on whole seasons.
Would you like to watch a movie you saw in your youth? No problem, these two are being presented on the Internet. You can find thousands of hours of entertainment for free or at low cost.
Hulu is probably the best know internet TV website. They have hundreds of shows and feature cable and network TV shows just days after being aired. Hulu also has an excellent collection of movies.
One of my personal favorites is Flash Candy, The Digital Drive-In. They have lots of 50’s-60’s ‘B’ movies. Cook up some popcorn, kick back and enjoy.
Speaking of oldies, check out TV4U. See what baby-boomers grew up watching.
Finally the new kid on the block is Clicker. They are trying to be the Google of online video.
And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! As I drag out my crystal ball … Over the next several years television will cease to exist as we know it. Cable will be only an Internet service provider. The long awaited convergence of Internet, computer, television, radio and phone … in short all communications … will be an Internet service.
The obsticle to all this is figuring out how to pay content providers. Cable and phone companies are sucking up the lion’s share of revenue and ignoring the content providers, the people that actually create something you may want to read, see or hear. The bigger ISP’s have even made noise about charging some content providers. They haven’t realized that with content there is absolutely no reason to turn that damned thing on. ISP’s would simply become bridges to nowhere. But don’t worry too much. They’ll get it … someday 